Lake Jackson Forum

[dgwilliams101]

Has everyone heard about the intentions of placing a 60ft. trailer on Cobb Rd? Just a little insight on the subject. The previous owner attempted to get permission from the county to remove the health and fire hazard known as a shack which presently sits on a lot on Cobb Rd. The county would not allow her to do so. Last week the new owners of the land in question attempted to bring a 60 ft trailer down Cobb Rd. Once they realized from one of the residents the roads would not allow it right now they turned around. The issue is the present structure will still remain in place. It had no water or sewage. The trailer they want to place on the lot is supposed to be put into place next to the shack. Presently without any inspection of research, the county granted a well drilling permit. However they have no septic permit. So the trailer will be placed next to the shack, with water but no sewage. There has been no response to my request for assistance or information from the Civic Association. Does anyone know of any lawyer or legal firm who will work pro bono with the citizens concerned about property values, preservation of the lake and the legal implications concerning this problem? If you do please forward the contact information to me or feel free to contact me directly. Myself and several other citizens would like to stop this travesty before more trailers move into our neighborhood and we're saddled yet again with more taxes to clean up a mess no one addresses such as the taxes to clean up the lake and dump the septic waste, but see no action from the county to clean up the lake from builders, farmers or contractors dumping up stream. Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

[Richard]

The Citizens Association has been in contact with the county about this issue. The county says they are still looking into it. We will continue to communicate with them to try and get a resolution as quickly as possible.

[Richard]

The County has reviewed the situation and has come back with the following information:

1) Based on both State and County ordinances, the owner of 8581 Cobb Road is within his rights to replace the existing structure (a manufactured home) with a manufactured home of a similar size. The current structure is approximately 690 square feet - the new one is 644 square feet (14 X 46). Although it will not meet the current setback requirements, it is grandfathered given that it is a replacement.

2) The owner has been issued a well permit

3) The owner has not been issued a septic field permit, and can not get a building/occupancy permit until he gets one.

For whatever it's worth, the lawyer for the owner says that the trailer is a top-of-the-line model and it will be placed on a permanent foundation, so it should look a lot like the "modular" homes that are already used on some lots around the lake.

If anyone has any additional questions, please email ljca@lakejacksonva.com and I will pass them on the the County. Both the Zoning Administrator (Nick Evers) and the Neighborhood Coordinator (Pat Reilly) have been very responsive and helpful and both have said they'd be glad to respond to any questions.

By the way - there's been talk around that a group is trying to get a petition together and appear before the BOCS meeting on Tuesday. Be advised that the evening session has been canceled.

Richard
President - LJCA

[dgwilliams]

I understand and appreciate the response from the board, but my question at this point is this; The initial structure at that particular location, is the county saying, even though they were never allowed on the lake in the first place they are allowed now and grandfathered under what, if they were not allowed?

The second issue is how we as a community stop this from happening again. Clearly a trailer is not a modular home no matter how beautiful the lawyer claims it to be. Judging from discussions with neighbors and friends in the community no one wants a trailer anywhere on Lake Jackson because it will result in more and more trailers coming into the community. I feel we have all put a great deal into our homes and their value would be greatly diminished with trailers parked wherever they are allowed to without question and with waiver after waiver from the county.

Third issue, the structure that is presently located at this property is a health hazard. During the summer copper heads flourish under it. The county would not allow the previous owner to remove the structure. Now is the county claiming it's alright to put a trailer, no matter what the quality, next to the shack?

I supposed I would be curious to know how the board looks at this situation and do they feel it is alright? Is the Board going to pursue this or is the board considering this response to be the end of the discussion?

[Richard]

First off - I want to make it clear that the Citizen's Association Board is neither for or against a trailer being put on this lot. While individual members certainly have their own opinions, the Association has no say as to whether this should be allowed or not. We are not a Homeowner's Association, and property owners do not sign any sort of agreement about what they can or can not do on their own property. My only role in all of this has been to try to communicate with the county so that the community can get factual and complete information about the situation, and to try and make sure that the county is applying laws to everyone fairly and completely. Please be clear - whether or not a trailer can be placed on this property is a question of state/county laws.

To respond specifically to dgwilliams' issues:

1) I will go back and ask the zoning office, but I don't believe there were zoning laws against manufactured housing or even setback requirements in Lake Jackson when the original structure was placed. If someone can provide solid evidence that the original structure was in violation, I will certainly bring it up with the county.

2) I understand the concern about Lake Jackson becoming a trailer park - as a home owner I don't want that to happen either. However, keep in mind that this is a specific case of replacing an exisiting manufactured home and doesn't apply to empty lots. In terms of preventing trailers from being placed on lots in Lake Jackson, I'm not sure what the zoning laws are. I will talk to the county and find out. Unless we become a homeowner's association (which seems highly unlikely since we'd have to get all the current residents to agree) I don't think there's any way for the association to stop it beyond using the zoning requirements.

3) The exisiting structure must be demolished before the new trailer goes in (assuming that ever happens). Again , if someone has solid evidence that the county is preventing this, please let me know. In fact, the notice for the sale of this property from the county says that the current structure must be demolished.

4) As I said above, at least at the moment the board has no official position on this matter. I have taken it upon myself to try and collect and distribute factual information about this as a service to the community. Again, I'm willing to pursue any reasonable issues with the county and try to get questions answered - so no, I don't necessarily consider the discussion closed. Reasonable discourse is always a good thing.

I hope this helps. Thanks for your comments and the chance to respond to them.

[WaterFront1]

I am curious how he is going to get a 14ft wide trailer down cobb rd. I went out today and measured the width and the road is only 11ft wide. This area was the hill above Linda Pl. In order to get 14ft he will be carving into the shoulders of the road. Who is going to pick up the cost of any damage to our road that may be caused by this trailer ?. I am sure this is not the only tight spot on cobb.


Food for thought

[dgwilliams]

I'm curious about what was going on yesterday, March 5, when all the county officials were at the shack. They were there for quite a while with diagrams, paper work and I understand the owners desire to utilize a cesspool because he couldn't get a septic permit. Does anyone know anything about that little gathering and what the decisions were? One of the major problems is lack of communications with the community in this issue. And, does anyone know why there is an unspeakable looking junk on wheels sitting at the end of Cobb Rd. Citizens aren't allowed to park there except in the snow. I sure hope that isn't the top of the line trailer we were told would look just like a modular home.

[Richard]

For those of you who didn't have a chance to attend or watch the BOCS meeting Tuesday afternoon, Supervisor Nohe had Nick Evers (the Zoning Administrator) make a statement about the trailer issue at the beginning of the meeting. The bottom line seems to be that the building permit for the lot (which is required prior to putting a trailer on it) was revoked because the County Health Department refused to approve a septic field on the lot (too small). While the owner is apparently going to appeal the decision, both Nohe and Evers said that the chances of the appeal succeeding were very small, and that in their opinion the issue was closed - the owner has the right to remove the exisiting shack (I don't think anybody has a problem with that) but will not be able to have any kind of home on it, manufactured or otherwise.

[WaterFront1]

Below is a reply i received back from supervisor Nohe and Nick Evers in regards to the removal of the current structure.


We are currently working on the demolition of the old structure. That
may have become more complicated because the owner may take his
application to bring in a trailer to the courts, but we have not
abandoned the need to remediate the site and will continue to work with
the owner toward that goal.

Marty Nohe


My understanding is the owner intends to remove the existing
building within the next two weeks. You can contact Property Code
Enforcement at 703-792-7018 to let them know of your concerns. They are
aware of the requirement for removal. If you have any further
questions, you can inquire by calling me at 703-792-6830.

Nick Evers

[WaterFront1]

Hello Everyone
I spoke with John Meehan(county environmental specialist) who informed me that the owner of the property at 8581 cobb rd asked to have the appeal hearing scheduled for March 21 to be withdrawn. It is the county's stance that they WILL NOT allow a cesspool style septic for household sewage. Mr Meehan did say that the owner may be able to utilize an alternative system, the BIG question is if he will have the proper set back distance's. The set back distance is 50 to 100 feet. The owner has not yet made any type of proposal to the county for an alternative system, but that is probably what his next move is. I also called the county Property Code Enforcement at 703-792-7018, to lodge a formal complaint about the structure at 8581 cobb rd had not been removed. They said they would work on contacting the owner and find out why it has not been taken care of. They will call me back with updated information.

[WaterFront1]

Update on trailer, I spoke to Todd McMillan who is the county property code enforcement agent responsible for this property. I called him to find out why the owner was improving the trailer when it was my understanding it had been condemned. Mr. McMillan visited the site on Friday and recondemned the structure, posting signs that the structure is condemned and that no one is allowed inside the structure. The owner has until June 5th to either have a structural engineer evaluate the structure to determine what would be required to make it structurally sound and then complete those tasks by June 5th, or he can demo the structure. The only people who are allowed in the trailer are the structural engineer and the person accompanying him at that time. If you see anyone other than the above described situation you should call 703-792-7337 and inform Mr. McMillan. If the owner chooses to do nothing between now and June 5th, the county board of supervisors will vote on weather it is a nuisance and should be demoed. If they have a positive vote to remove the structure then a public hearing will be posted and set for three weeks from that date.

[WaterFront1]

I spoke with Todd McMillen today 9/17/07 and a hearing date for the appeal has been set for 10/16/07 at 1:30 in the developmental services building, room 31 located in the basement across the hall from the cafeteria. The developmental services building is located behind the McCourt building.


Thanks
Pete

[WaterFront1]

The person who is handling the propery code enforcement now is Sean Farrell, his contact info is below.

Sean P. Farrell, CBMO, CZA, SCOP
VBCOA Region V Chairman
Chief Property Code Enforcement Inspector
Division of Neighborhood Services
Department of Public Works
Prince William County, VA
703-792-5998
sfarrell@pwcgov.org

I also found out were the county stands in regards to the trailer now. Mr Archie has appealed the health department "Mr Meehan". Below is a reply i received from Mr Meehan in regards to my question i sent to him. I asked what exactly was Mr Archie appealing and why was it going to take until september of 08 to hear his case.

Mr. Sheil, Mr. Archie is appealing the finding that the former cesspool is not a safe, adequate and proper means of sewage disposal.
The Sewage Handling and Disposal Appeals Review Board sets its own agenda and has other appeals filed earlier than Mr. Archie's. They meet eight times per year and will only hear two cases per meeting.
At some point I may not be able to discuss the case further with anyone except counsel.

[WaterFront1]

Mr Farrell,
Can you please bring me up to date with how the Health Department ruled on Mr Archie's appeal.

Below is the reply i received back.

"Mr. Sheil,

There has been some movement on the Health front and I am awaiting the
specific report to come my way. Hoping by the end of next week(6/5/09).As soon as I get it, I will provide an updated status to you.

Thanks for your patience thus far.

Sean "

[jeepgirl0523]

no matter what the cty thinks, trailers should NOT be allowed to comprimise the beauty of lake jackson. do hardworking people have no say so when it comes to our own neighborhoods and homes?

[WaterFront1]

Just FYI, Mr Archies appeal date is april 7th 2010. I hope this is the final one and we can move forward with process of demo.